Phil Nowack
Well-known member
I saw this in the new Macks catalog.... Has anyone heard about this shot? I am guessing this is to compete with Black Cloud.
I agree with you Al. Another gimmick that waterfowl hunters will snap up so they can kill them at 100 yards. Where are the old school ways of learning how to get them close, shoot straight and leave no cripples? I think the hype in advertising makes hunters loose sight of the main object and creates the idea that they can outshoot the blind closest to them by having these loads, which is why I won't hunt public areas. Many see something in print and take it for gospel and don't realize these test are done under lab or optimum conditions. Most shooters I have seen with these loads aren't a good enough shot to consistantly hit a crossing duck at 40 yards, much less 60. As a taxidermist you won't believe how many ducks and geese I skin that have previously inflicted pellets just under the skin from shots take too far and plenty with broken up feet and legs from being shot too far back to kill, just maime and cripple. In Argentina we shoot 1 1/16 oz.loads of 7's out of IC tubes and let them get in good killable range and regularily shoot over 80% on shells to ducks. Same way at my place in Arkansas. A lot of time a 20 gauge is the biggest gun in the group as many of us shoot 410's and 28's in the woods and they are devestating. Sorry, dont' get mad at me, just got on my soapbox and is just my opinion.
Thanks, Pat. There is nothing in the world of duck hunting that can compare with sitting in a blind and calling ducks as close to you as possible. Normally I hunt on public land but in an area where there aren't many hunters. To give you an idea, last year I had two guys set up a half mile south of me, so I picked up my decoys and went home. Thought it was much too crowded to hunt.
Anyway, over the course of the last 15 years, I no longer care to try and scratch down a duck. I won't talk about those guys who are sky busters. Those that will not hesitate in taking shots of high flying birds from 80 to 100 yards or more. To me they can't call themselves duck hunters. I have seen the reports just like you have mentioned about ducks carrying steel, being wounded only to crash a half mile away, and or trying to negotiate life with a broken leg, like you also mentioned. Guys pounding away at 60 yards and saying they don't wound any ducks is a complete farce. I was one of those guys years ago but glad that I made a change in my duck hunting ways. (Yes, in my life I have taken a mallard decoy, set it up on the 40 yard line of the football field, then walked back to the goal line to see what a 60 yard shot really is and what the size of the duck looks like. I had built a small plywood platform on a 4' stake so it was easier to see. I have also measured 60 yards and put up a refrigerator cardboard box (taken apart so it is as wide and high as possible) just to see what the pattern looks like with #2, #3, #4, and #6s. All you need is tape, a lot of rolled paper and time. Now I also know about errant bb's. I once had a flock of mallards come into my blocks flying in a long horizontal line coming straight in at me, maybe 12 to 15 birds. I opted to take out the far left hand greenhead. I shot and he crumpled along with a hen that was on the far right hand side at least 15 feet away from the bird I shot at. She had one bb that hit her head. Bird shot will do crazy things in the air and you need to be aware of it. Most duck hunters will never fess up to the cripples that they put down. Just something that happens and the make up of the individual. So for a few years now, I do care to be more careful in my approach to shooting ducks.
I know longer am willing to take a long shot, maybe because of my age. My farthest one now is normally less than 30 yards just because I will only shoot inside the outer most decoy I have set up. If a flock of mallards comes in and is not just right, I will opt to try and swing them around another time for a better look and or shot. If not the second time, then for a third time. Many a time I have watched the ducks fly away but that is all right with me because it is part of duck hunting. I care to be fussy. I like to select my shots and it is important for them to be in my comfort zone.
To me there is nothing worse than knowing that I caused the death of a duck/goose only because of my negligence. I respect what I am trying to shoot and take home with me, way too much. Therefore, when I hunt, if I shoot just one duck, I am happy as hell because it was a bonus for that hunting day. For me to just be out in the swamp/slough,beaver pond/river, and be part of Mother Nature, what else could be more important? I just happen to love shooting ducks with 2 3/4" shells. I go with mostly 7 shot but also have in my arsenal some #6's and #4's depending on the time of year it is.
Al
I agree with you Al. Another gimmick that waterfowl hunters will snap up so they can kill them at 100 yards.
What about the Federal stuff that shoots 1700fps.....WOW!. That's like shooting a rifle with velocity like that! What kind of pressure and recoil does that produce?
Tom, ever since the phrase, "Speed Kills" was coined, manufacturers have capitalized on it. I think Winchester came out with 1550fps on their Xperts and even I, back then said, "WOW"! Then Kent came out with the shells that were at 1625fps and now we have Federal at 1700fps. These folks are making money and that is good. Helps the economy. Most of my shells that I shoot are at the 1200+fps up to about 1400fps. Just 2 3/4".
Al